Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Slight hiatus
Oh. Hello there. I almost forgot I had a blog. What's this thing about anyway? Oh, yeah, the kids.
Well, both kids are still alive and doing well.
Maureen continues to amaze me with her intelligence and good nature. Kristin is currently working on the alphabet with Mojo daily. The last two nights I've sat with her before bedtime playing a game where I spell out and have her sound out the names of our family members: "The next one is one of your uncles and is spelled J - what sound does a jay make?" and she tries to guess which family member as we continue to spell out the name. I'm not quite sure she fully gets the concept of sounding out - she's good at memorizing and I think her ability to spell certain words is done by rote.
Mojo seems to be doing well at the parents day out program (school) and is starting to learn quickly about group dynamics. She is having trouble with certain kids who seem to have no problem asserting their will on others without concern of feelings or consequences. Last night she said, "Hey Daddy, look at me" and stuck her tongue out at me. I knew immediately where she picked that one up, and told her that was not a nice thing to do. She scrunched up her brow and told me she was sorry and she'd never do it again. Her quick reaction told me she already knew it was wrong, but now is the time to test the waters.
Rowan is a showman. He loves to make me laugh and it doesn't take much to complete his task. He is still really into sports and we are trying to foster that by reading baseball books at night (thanks for the books Karen!) and throwing the ball with him. We haven't spent much time outdoors with him in a long while, but I plan to be able to go outside more in the spring to run him around and test out that little arm of his. And I'm anxious to fully test out that golf set and t-ball set he got for Christmas. I hope he keeps with this enthusiasm for physical activity as he grows, but if he does, I'll have to read up on how not to corrupt his enthusiasm with my poor athletic ability. I need to learn how to aim grounder so he can practice fielding. I wonder if there's a coaching for Dummies book out there? Perhaps we can send him out to North Carolina for spring training with his uncle Dolberry?
It seems that Kristin's quitting the Girl Scouts was the best decision made this year (actually last year according to the calendar). She's stayed super busy with Real Estate, but has had more stress free time to spend with the kids. She still gets frantic at times as her business increases, etching out time for phone calls and pop-up projects; but I can tell that she is more calm as a result of dumping the additional burden. Now, if we can only get me back on the right track...but that's a whole different blog subject, and I can barely keep this blog up!
I realize keeping this blog up is a matter of will power. I encourage the existing readers (all one of you!) to harass me about not writing.
Well, both kids are still alive and doing well.
Maureen continues to amaze me with her intelligence and good nature. Kristin is currently working on the alphabet with Mojo daily. The last two nights I've sat with her before bedtime playing a game where I spell out and have her sound out the names of our family members: "The next one is one of your uncles and is spelled J - what sound does a jay make?" and she tries to guess which family member as we continue to spell out the name. I'm not quite sure she fully gets the concept of sounding out - she's good at memorizing and I think her ability to spell certain words is done by rote.
Mojo seems to be doing well at the parents day out program (school) and is starting to learn quickly about group dynamics. She is having trouble with certain kids who seem to have no problem asserting their will on others without concern of feelings or consequences. Last night she said, "Hey Daddy, look at me" and stuck her tongue out at me. I knew immediately where she picked that one up, and told her that was not a nice thing to do. She scrunched up her brow and told me she was sorry and she'd never do it again. Her quick reaction told me she already knew it was wrong, but now is the time to test the waters.
Rowan is a showman. He loves to make me laugh and it doesn't take much to complete his task. He is still really into sports and we are trying to foster that by reading baseball books at night (thanks for the books Karen!) and throwing the ball with him. We haven't spent much time outdoors with him in a long while, but I plan to be able to go outside more in the spring to run him around and test out that little arm of his. And I'm anxious to fully test out that golf set and t-ball set he got for Christmas. I hope he keeps with this enthusiasm for physical activity as he grows, but if he does, I'll have to read up on how not to corrupt his enthusiasm with my poor athletic ability. I need to learn how to aim grounder so he can practice fielding. I wonder if there's a coaching for Dummies book out there? Perhaps we can send him out to North Carolina for spring training with his uncle Dolberry?
It seems that Kristin's quitting the Girl Scouts was the best decision made this year (actually last year according to the calendar). She's stayed super busy with Real Estate, but has had more stress free time to spend with the kids. She still gets frantic at times as her business increases, etching out time for phone calls and pop-up projects; but I can tell that she is more calm as a result of dumping the additional burden. Now, if we can only get me back on the right track...but that's a whole different blog subject, and I can barely keep this blog up!
I realize keeping this blog up is a matter of will power. I encourage the existing readers (all one of you!) to harass me about not writing.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Indianapolis Children's Museum
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Having fun in the Barbie exhibit
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Had enough of the Barbie Exhibit
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
Monday, December 28, 2009
Baseball Bat
One of Rowan's first words was Ball. Then he somehow added the word Base to Ball to make Baseball (most likely influenced by his grandmother.) And last week, we went downtown to see the monumental baseball bat down at the Slugger Museum - he added Bat to his phrase, which is repeated several times a day.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
What a nice holiday.
It's been a great Christmas break - very relaxing and stress free. Maureen and Rowan seemed perfectly satisfied with and appreciative for their gifts from Santa and their very generous extended family. And they seemed not to get into major arguments about playing together (as much as a three-year-old and a year-and-a-half-year-old can.) No disappointments, no holiday blues, just plain nice.
Christmas eve mass was a bit of a challenge with Rowan - he is at the age where his energy is overwhelming and he must be on the move at all times. We had plenty of assistance as he was passed between Meemaw to Papaw, from Uncle Scott to Aunt Kathy, from Cousin Abbey to Cousin Gus, from Great Meemaw...you get the picture. That evening we did the whole cookies and milk bit with Maureen - of course she was amazed that all the refreshments were gobbled up by the time she awoke. Score.
Gift highlights: Fancy Nancy paraphernalia for Mojo
Sports oriented everything for Rowan
Evil Roy Slade DVD for Dad
Things Mom bought for herself for Mom
It's been the perfect respite at the end of a not-so-perfect year. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, especially the family and friends who live out of town (in particular, the Dolberries and Carrie and Almost Uncle Gabe). Here's looking forward to a loving yet prosperous 2010!
Christmas eve mass was a bit of a challenge with Rowan - he is at the age where his energy is overwhelming and he must be on the move at all times. We had plenty of assistance as he was passed between Meemaw to Papaw, from Uncle Scott to Aunt Kathy, from Cousin Abbey to Cousin Gus, from Great Meemaw...you get the picture. That evening we did the whole cookies and milk bit with Maureen - of course she was amazed that all the refreshments were gobbled up by the time she awoke. Score.
Gift highlights: Fancy Nancy paraphernalia for Mojo
Sports oriented everything for Rowan
Evil Roy Slade DVD for Dad
Things Mom bought for herself for Mom
It's been the perfect respite at the end of a not-so-perfect year. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, especially the family and friends who live out of town (in particular, the Dolberries and Carrie and Almost Uncle Gabe). Here's looking forward to a loving yet prosperous 2010!
Monday, December 21, 2009
The first of many Christmas disappointments
Maureen has mentioned only one thing that she wants for Christmas. A Max and Ruby Christmas DVD. She's had her mind set since Thanksgiving. She finally got a chance to ask Santa Claus for it yesterday during his visit at the Bonnycastle. This is one of those events that you block out how truly awful it is each year. The place transforms from a private men's club to Chuckie Cheese in a matter of minutes. They always have a creepy clown making elaborate balloon sculptures; and the clown usually has to be told to simplify his creations because the line moves at a snails pace as he replicates Michelangelo's Pieta for antsy children. The main room was already packed to the gills when we came in, so we had to park all six of us in the three available chairs next to the creepy clown. You could tell that Maureen was thinking over how she would handle her brief visit on Santa's lap. We were given forms to fill out with the child's name, age, what they want for Christmas, and their goal for the coming year. Of course Rowan's goal was to win the lottery for dad, while Maureen's was to contribute to the family finances. Both admirable goals for young children if I do say so myself!
Finally, the fat man showed up to a frenzy and made his way to the front of the room. They started to call the kids up, starting with the newborns to toddlers to have a brief, personal visit with Santa (with Mrs. Clause by his side.) Rowan really wanted nothing to do with this tradition - He opted out of the lap sitting, got his toy (a ball - yay) and got the hell out of there.
When it was finally Maureen's turn, she cautiously approached Santa, sat on his lap and was very, very good. Then the Jerk said to her (after being told what was filled out on the form), so, you want a DVD for Christmas. Maureen obediently said yes, and was escorted off his lap and handed a wrapped present. Now put yourself in a three-year-old mindset. What do you think should be in that package? Certainly not a pretty baby doll, right? Wrong. Under normal circumstances she would have been thrilled with this baby doll, but she was really expecting the DVD. Tears immediately started to flow.
We had to promise that he is coming back to our house on Christmas eve and that he will have that DVD for her. I told Mojo that I personally had a chat and he promised the DVD. She will get that DVD. After a half hour of convincing her that she will get that DVD, she started to love the doll.
Her Memaw was very happy to hear that she was naming the doll Karen until Mojo explained that her baby's name is just like that of her babysitter, Miss Karen. Oh, the brutality of an honest three-year-old. All was well after dinner and the children went to bed happy. Whew!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Holy Moly, It's almost Christmas again
I can't believe another year has come and gone. The last thing I remember was dressing the kids up for Halloween, and now we are making plans for Christmas. Maureen is more in tuned with what's going on right now, especially in knowing all the words to various Christmas carols. Rowan doesn't really have a clue about what's coming up -- I can't wait to see what his reaction will be to sitting on Santa's lap this Sunday when the big fat guy in red visits the Bonnycastle Club.
It's going to be a fairly low-key holiday this year. We had bigger celebrations over Thanksgiving, with the Dolberry Family and Carrie and Almost Uncle Gabe (Kristin's sibs et al) in town. I only have to make it through Monday and Tuesday at work and will enjoy a five-day weekend. It should be a slow, short work week where I can get my office clean and catch up on billing.
Oh, my early morning buddy seems to be waking up now. More later...I hope.
See you cats later.
It's going to be a fairly low-key holiday this year. We had bigger celebrations over Thanksgiving, with the Dolberry Family and Carrie and Almost Uncle Gabe (Kristin's sibs et al) in town. I only have to make it through Monday and Tuesday at work and will enjoy a five-day weekend. It should be a slow, short work week where I can get my office clean and catch up on billing.
Oh, my early morning buddy seems to be waking up now. More later...I hope.
See you cats later.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Most likely to succeed - part 2
Turns out that all the kids were named most likely to succeed. I call BS on that - but if it makes their kids feel better, whatever. We all know the truth.
PS: Rowan said "I love you" to me over the phone for the first time last night. Sweet.
PS: Rowan said "I love you" to me over the phone for the first time last night. Sweet.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Most likely to succeed
Maureen brought home a piece of artwork from her class today. It was a bigger that life-size outline of a girl, with Maureen's photo where the face should be. There were dabs of paint on the artwork, and photos of fruit, Dora, Juice, and other toys glued throughout. Also, there was a sign that says:
Maureen
- Most likely to Succeed
- Vice President of the Drama Club
- Friendship Club
- Lunch Buddy
Most likely to succeed? At what? Still proud of her, though I'm not sure if they did that on everyone's cut-out to make all the kid's parents proud. It's a mystery.
Maureen
- Most likely to Succeed
- Vice President of the Drama Club
- Friendship Club
- Lunch Buddy
Most likely to succeed? At what? Still proud of her, though I'm not sure if they did that on everyone's cut-out to make all the kid's parents proud. It's a mystery.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Happy Birthday Baby
Today is Kristin's 40th birthday!! Celebrate good times, come on! Let's celebrate yow!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Budding artist?
Yesterday Maureen and I were talking about her cousins. We named all four of her cousins, all of whom she will see this holiday week at some point. She then asked me to name all of my cousins, which was a chore. I came up with 29, not counting spouses (I don't think I could successfully name the all spouses.) She then drew a picture of each of them. Some she asked, "who's next?" and she would draw the picture, not exactly knowing the person. Other times she would draw the picture and I would have to tell her who it was. The photo is of either cousin Jean or cousin Susie. I can't tell for sure. Neither can Maureen. Great fun! And if she doesn't make it as a visual artist, there' always her music to fall back on. Ha!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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